However, after Magistrate Ma's confusing lecture, Xu Yan took the initiative to leave.
When he left the government office, the back of his clothes was soaked.
Dealing with people in the officialdom was too difficult. If it was someone you knew well, it would be fine, but if you wanted to understand someone like Magistrate Ma, whose words were full of hidden meanings, you really couldn't do it without some understanding.
However, Chen Maoli's matter should be settled, and Magistrate Ma does not seem to have any intention of continuing to dwell on it.
After Xu Yan returned to Tailai Inn, he went straight upstairs to his room.
Upon hearing that Xu Yan had returned, the little servant Shuangxi and Chen Maoli both came out to greet him.
"Brother Yishi, did the officials give you any trouble?"
Xu Yan was "taken away for questioning" because of his affairs, so Chen Maoli naturally felt very sorry.
"Brother Lu Qing, I'm back safe and sound."
Xu Yan smiled and said, "Master Fu Zun only asked me some questions and then called me back. He didn't make things difficult for me."
"That's good, that's good."
Chen Maoli was delighted when he heard this: "In that case, you and I, brothers, might as well have a drink together."
Shuangxi also said: "We haven't used the food prepared in the store yet. We are just waiting for the young master to come back."
Xu Yan happened to be a little hungry, so he nodded and said, "That's exactly what I was thinking."
Shuangxi brought the food and placed it on the table in order.
Herring shad in red fermented rice wine, stir-fried kidney, steamed fish with willow branches, goose gizzards in fermented rice wine, pickled whitebait with osmanthus fragrans, steamed sun-dried chicken, stir-fried gluten, roasted pork ribs, scrambled eggs, red meat dumplings with yam, braised chicken with bamboo shoots, garlic-braised lychee meat, oven-roasted duck, donkey meat with yellow leeks, stir-fried winter bamboo shoots with spring onion sauce, pan-fried fish, stir-fried quail...
Looking around, you can find all kinds of delicacies from land and sea.
Now, not to mention Chen Maoli, even Xu Yan and Shuangxi were dumbfounded.
Did the damn waiter bring a banquet? There were only three of them, how could they possibly eat so much?
This table of food would cost at least two or three taels of silver. Although Xu Yan was not short of money, he didn't want to waste it like this.
"This killer must have seen my brother's generosity and wanted to spend the money he was given as quickly as possible so he could ask my brother for more!"
Chen Maoli spoke up for Xu Yan.
Xu Yan shook his head and smiled bitterly, "It's my fault for trusting him too much. Forget it this time. Next time I'll ask Shuangxi to go out and buy it."
Now that things have come to this, there is no need to be angry with yourself.
Besides, Xu Yan was already a little hungry, so he started to eat with Chen Maoli and Shuangxi.
The combination of mountain and sea delicacies and Jinhua rice wine has a unique flavor.
After half an hour, the three of them were full of food and drink, and most of the dishes were still left on the table.
"To be honest, this is the most luxurious meal I have ever had in my life."
Chen Maoli said, patting his stomach.
Xu Yan ate a full meal and said with embarrassment, "I'm sorry to have embarrassed you, Brother Lu Qing."
It turns out that sometimes having too many choices isn't a good thing, because you always want to try them all...
After a while, Chen Maoli stood up and said goodbye.
Xu Yan sent him out of the house and then lay down on the bed.
"Master, wipe your face."
Shuangxi wrung out the wet handkerchief and handed it to Xu Yan.
Xu Yan wiped it hastily and shook his head, "Let me rest for a while."
Shuangxi hummed and took a quilt to sleep on the floor.
A person fell silent, recalling the conversation with Magistrate Ma in the government office today, Xu Yan felt it was very strange.
First, Magistrate Ma summoned Xu Yan to the government office to question him about "guaranteeing Chen Maoli." However, apart from asking a few symbolic questions, Magistrate Ma did not pay much attention to the matter.
Instead, the prefect later commissioned Xu Yan to compose a lyric, using the theme "Look, where do the crows stop? On whose roof?" After Xu Yan finished writing, the prefect then induced him to discuss serving his country as an official. He then led him to the line, "A virtuous person should be able to change his appearance; one should serve his parents with all his strength; one should serve his ruler with his whole life. When making friends, one should keep his word. Even if one claims to be unlearned, I will certainly say he is."
Now I think the connection between the two is extremely forced, as if it was forced.
It stands to reason that the prefect wouldn't do such a thing. Could it be that the prefect has other intentions?
Xu Yan thought of Magistrate Ma's last words, "This is just enough, you should think about it carefully," and felt that this matter was not simple.
Xu Yan closed his eyes and began to carefully recall every detail. "Look, where do the crows stop? Whose house are they in?" is from the Book of Songs, one of the Five Classics. "A virtuous man is not easily tempted by lust; he serves his parents with all his strength; he serves his ruler with his whole life. In friendship, he keeps his word. Even if he claims to be unlearned, I will certainly say he has learned." is from the Analects of Confucius, one of the Four Books.
The Four Books and the Five Classics, this could certainly be a coincidence, but there is another possibility, that is, it was planned in advance by Magistrate Ma, leading Xu Yan step by step.
At this point, Xu Yan had a bold idea in his mind...
Could this be considered as Magistrate Ma hinting to him about the provincial examination topics?
Of course, Magistrate Ma only said this much. As for what level Xu Yan could understand, that was Xu Yan's own business.
However, Xu Yan still felt that it was better to believe it than not.
He stood up suddenly and began to analyze the two lines from the Book of Songs and the Analects for possible question-making angles. He was surprised to find that these two lines were perfectly suitable for question-making.
But there was one question he couldn't understand. Even if Magistrate Ma had given him the title of the Four Books, how did he know that Xu Yan's original text was the Book of Songs?
After all, one of the Five Classics had to be chosen, and Xu Yan had never told Magistrate Ma that the classic he was studying was the Book of Songs.
Could it be that County Magistrate Zhao mentioned it to Prefect Ma?
The more Xu Yan thought about it, the more uneasy he felt. With the provincial exam approaching, he couldn't concentrate on anything else. He might as well practice these two questions as if they were from the provincial exam. If they were genuine, Xu Yan would definitely make a killing. Even if they weren't, it wouldn't be a loss for him to practice.
"Shuangxi, spread the paper and grind the ink!"
Shuangxi was making the bed, and when he saw his young master writing so late at night, he said with concern, "Young master, can't you take a break for a while?"
"Come on, Master, I'm not tired right now!"
Shuangxi had no choice but to clean up the table, spread out the paper for Xu Yan, and stand by to grind the ink.
Xu Yan closed his eyes and meditated quietly.
Magistrate Ma was a fourth-rank official of the imperial court. It was impossible for him to directly tell Xu Yan the question for a student like him, risking his career. At most, he would hint at it through casual conversation. In this way, even if Xu Yan guessed something, it would be his own "guess."
Prefect Ma's sudden overture to Xu Yan was certainly related to the offering of auspicious signs, but it wasn't solely due to this. The relationship between Governor Zhu Wan and Xu Yan, both mentor and friend, was also a major factor in Prefect Ma's overture.
When you connect all these causes and consequences and all the details, you will find that everything can be explained.
The Ming Dynasty officialdom has always been interconnected. Since the governor is optimistic about Xu Yan, why shouldn't Magistrate Ma go along with it?
Of course, these are just Xu Yan's guesses.
......
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